The Lennon/Jagger collaboration
Recorded at Record Plant Studio, West Los Angeles
Produced by John Lennon
Production Coordination: May Pang
One of the most intriguing stories of the 'Lost Weekend' is about a 'mythical' collaboration between Lennon and Mick Jagger.
As the rumor went, the song was a cover version of the blues song 'Too Many Cooks' by Willie Dixon, featuring Jagger (vocals), Lennon on guitar and ex-Beatle Ringo Starr on drums.
Tom Fisher, a London record store owner, put an unlabeled acetate (made directly from a master tape) up for auction at the Cooper Owen auction house (Feb 2003). It's believed the record had once belonged to Ronnie Wood (guitarist for the Rolling Stones). Fisher claimed he had discovered it among a stack of records and he'd paid �20 for it. The record, promoted as a Lennon/Jagger rarity, fetched a cool �1,400 at the auction... so Fisher had made quite a considerable profit on his lucky find.
Another account of the discovery of the 'Too Many Cooks' master was that it had been stored under May Pang's bed !!!
This webmaster prefers the 'Under May's Bed Theory'... I kinda like the idea of May casually tossing a record, worth its weight in platinum, featuring two of the most influential musicians of the times, backed by the most respected session musicians of the era, under her bed among her shoes.
And, if this following report is accurate, Mick Jagger seems to add weight to the 'Under May's Bed Theory', as he's been quoted as saying: "We did find a good master... May Pang, who was John's girlfriend at the time, gave me the master."
Some accounts were saying it was originally recorded at the Record Plant Studio, West Los Angeles, in 1973. Other accounts insisted it was recorded at a later session in 1974, which clearly dates the recording in the May Pang era....but all accounts agree it was produced by John Lennon.
Mick Jagger later personally authenticated that the track was recorded in 1974 while Lennon was living with May Pang during the 'Lost Weekend' period.
Mick Jagger released 'Too Many Cooks' on his album 'The Very Best of Mick Jagger' an astonishing 30 years after the original recording!
Jagger admitted that he had forgotten the record existed for a number of years. How Jagger could have "forgotten" about such a unique collaboration only further adds to the mystery.
But it sorta makes you wonder... what else might May Pang have stashed under her bed ???
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Tracklist
1. God Gave Me Everything2. Put Me In The Trash
3. Just Another Night
4. Don�t Tear Me Up
5. Charmed Life
6. Sweet Thing
7. Old Habits Die Hard
8. Dancing In The Street
9. Too Many Cooks
10. Memo From Turner
11. Lucky In Love
12. Let�s Work
13. Joy
14. Don�t Call Me Up
15. Checkin' Up On My Baby
16. Don�t Look Back
17. Evening Gown
Some of the rumors surrounding the 'mythical' record proved to be true, others not so true. The song was actually a cover of the 1969 debut single by the oddly named Motown ensemble, '100 Proof - Aged In Soul'.
And it was not Ringo Starr, on drums... Jim Keltner was the drummer.
Most music historians consider that although Lennon did indeed produce the record, he did not contribute on guitar... two of the most respected session guitarists were actually employed.
'Too Many Cooks' was cut with an astonishingly professional backing band which included guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Jesse Ed Davis, keyboardist Al Kooper, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Jim Keltner. Harry Nilsson provided backing vocals.
Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar
Danny Kortchmar, a respected session musician, has played with and backed the likes of David Crosby, Graham Nash, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson and Jackson Browne. He's also produced albums by Don Henley (Eagles), Neil Young, Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), Billy Joel, Hanson and Tracy Chapman. Kortchmar backed Carol King on her classic groundbreaking album, Tapestry.
Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse Ed Davis (a full-blooded Kiowa Indian), was considered the most versatile session guitarist of the late '60s and early '70s. Davies was a master blues, rock and country guitarist.
Davis has played on a dozens of records, including albums by Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leonard Cohen, Keith Moon, Jackson Browne, Steve Miller, Harry Nilsson and Van Dyke Parks. Davis was a guest artist at George Harrison's 'The Concert for Bangladesh' in 1971 at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
Al Kooper
Kooper is probably best known for providing the haunting Hammond Organ sounds on Bob Dylan's classic 'Like A Rolling Stone'. He also toured with Dylan in 1965 and even played keyboard for Dylan as late as Dylan's 1981 world tour. He formed Blood, Sweat & Tears but left after the group's first album 'Child Is Father to the Man' in 1968. Kooper has played on hundreds of records, including The Rolling Stones, B. B. King, The Who and Cream.
Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce, famous bass guitarist in the first super group 'Cream' with Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton was also a prolific songwriter. He penned many of Cream's original material, with songwriter Pete Brown, including 'Sunshine of Your Love', 'White Room', and 'I Feel Free'.
Jim Keltner
Although not a household name, Jim Keltner (essentially a session drummer) is one of the most, if not the most, respected drummers in the business.
Keltner who has also worked with ex-Beatle George Harrison, has also drummed for Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, the Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Brian Wilson, Neil Young, Crowded House, Fiona Apple, Elvis Costello, The Bee Gees, Ry Cooder, Los Lobos, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Tom Petty, the Steve Miller Band, Lucinda Williams and Steve Poltz among many others.
If 'Too Many Cooks' had been released in its day, it would have been nothing short of sensational. Jagger... backed by the most respected session musicians of the times... produced by John Lennon !!!
Yet unbelievably, this recording was stored, possibly under May Pang's bed, for more than a quarter of a century. As things turned out, it eventually surfaced as just a 'curio'... track #9 on a 'Best of' album.